Second records request sent to area school districts includes definition of misconduct

Thirteen local school districts have been asked to provide copies of complaints of teacher misconduct and records of any actions taken as a result of such conduct.

The Public Records Act requests, sent last week by The Sun and the Daily Bulletin, follow queries sent last month to 19 school districts seeking the number of complaints of teacher misconduct in the last five years.

Many districts queried responded by noting that they did not have such a record and therefore could not provide the information as requested. Some districts sought additional clarification on the terms.

The latest query, sent last week, seeks copies of complaints related to teacher conduct that is deemed immoral or unprofessional as defined by the state Education Code.

So far, two districts - Pomona Unified and Colton Joint Unified - have responded to the second records request and indicated that documents will be made available by April 11. Other districts have until April 4 or 6 to respond.

The Daily Bulletin, The Sun and the Redlands Daily Facts are seeking this information in the wake of a major scandal at a Los Angeles Unified School District elementary school. After a teacher at LAUSD's Miramonte School was arrested and accused of sexually abusing students, parents complained that Los Angeles Unified has not been forthcoming when it comes to information about the scandal.

On Feb. 28 and 29, the newspapers mailed letters to districts from Bonita Unified School District in the west to Banning Unified School District in the east, asking for the number of complaints regarding teacher misconduct and reports sent to the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing requesting revocation of teacher credentials.

Two districts - Central and Rialto Unified - provided a list of complaints.

Alta Loma, Mountain View and Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified school districts reported no complaints since 2006-07, while Bonita Unified School District reported one complaint that is currently under investigation.

Four districts requested additional time to prepare the documents.

Nine school districts reported that they have no records listing the number of complaints and weren't required by law to create such a record. Nine districts also asked for a clarification of the term "misconduct" or "complaint."

In response, the most recent records request sent to school districts defines misconduct as immoral conduct or defiance of laws that regulate the duties of a teacher. The query also defines complaint as that which is documented and verbal.

The second records request also seeks information on actions taken by each district in response to complaints and reports sent to the state commission regarding disciplinary action related to teacher misconduct.